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Four bald eagles—three adults and a juvenile—have been found floating in a lake near Granite Falls in Washington State in an apparent cold-blooded killing, authorities say. The Stillaguamish Tribe has contributed $10,000 to the reward fund for information leading to the apprehension and conviction of those involved.

"The Tribe is shocked and offended at the wanton wastage of wildlife and supports the efforts of state authorities to investigate and prosecute this case," the Stillaguamish said in a statement on January 18.

The Washington Fish and Wildlife Department, along with the Humane Society of the United States and Conservation Northwest are also offering reward money, bringing the total fund to $13,750.

Discovered on January 9, the birds appeared to have been shot out of the trees with a small-caliber rifle, for no apparent reason. Although there are many legitimate ceremonial uses of eagle parts, their talons and feathers were left intact, wildlife officials said.

“I've never seen anything like this in 11 years. It's just egregious,” Sergeant Jennifer Maurstad of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife told KING, Seattle’s NBC affiliate. “I've seen crimes of opportunity but never with eagles.”

The bald eagle has been off the U.S. Endangered Species List since 2007, but killing them carries stiff penalties because they’re protected under other laws. The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act carries a fine of up to $250,000, or two years in prison, NBC News reported, with civil penalties adding thousands more in potential fines, as well as imprisonment. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Lacey Act also protect bald eagles, NBC News said.

The birds have been sent to a lab of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for forensic analysis in hopes of extracting bullets and gathering other evidence that could lead to the culprits, wildlife officials said. They were keeping the exact location of the grisly discovery under wraps while the investigation continues, NBC News said.

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Anyone who would do that would probably kill people too. They are sick & I hope & pray that they are caught & put away for a very long time. There is no place for demons like that in our society. A little more gun control wouldn't hurt either, before they do kill people too......

This is animal cruelty and the laws have to be enforced n much bigger penalties. I say an eye for an eye n I know alot of people who agree with me. These birds feed of rodents n berries not people or livestock. They are important to our heritage n needs to be respected. Their our country's symbol of strength n freedom n makes anyone that killed them a coward in my eyes. Let's catch them because they have probably killed before.... N they will kill again.

you just don't destroy national symbols of Strength and Freedom , sounds like someone that would vote for obama, kill America and every thing it stands for. they need to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, and all there guns taken .

As our national bird and emblem of the USA I thought there was also a term of life imprisonment for people found guilty of doing this.
With people like this around both species will be back on that endangered list in no time!

The birds were probably perched in the branches watching the water for a chance to catch prey fish. They were harming noone. I watch some webcams on BE nests on the Catalina Islands and the birds are fantastic. This is approaching their breeding season. Hoping the person(s) responsible is brought to justice.

i cry to think someone would do this.they are a symbol of our nation of fredom of majestry,who would be so stupid ..unfeeling and unmindful of the law.i hope they are caught and punished as they should be. we live wher bald eagles ,golden and black eagles fly free are loved and we throwfish onto th elake for them.they are beatiful and we always are in awe when we see them.

Gun control is not the issue. Bad people pull triggers. I'd be willing to bet some teenager just received a rifle for Christmas. If someone is underaged that did this, I hope they are tried as an ADULT. Anyone that would do this needs serious jailtime. Harriett-Texas